Increasing the Activity of Copper Guanidine Quinoline Catalysts: Substitution at the Quinoline Backbone Leads to Highly Active Complexes for ATRP

Copper bromide complexes with the ligands TMG6NO2qu, TMG6Brqu, TMG6Methoxyqu, TMG6NMe2qu, TMG6EHOqu and TMG6dBAqu were examined regarding their activity in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The inspired by 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-(quinolin-8-yl)guanidine (TMGqu) substituents have been chosen a large range between electron withdrawing donating abilities. donor properties of can be strongly influenced further highly active catalysts based on these systems obtained. strong moieties addition modified alkyl groups to increase solubility apolar monomers like styrene. CuI CuII crystallised structural data correlated different catalyst activity. electrochemical potentials E1/2, equilibrium constants KATRP rate kact kdeact determined. Polymerizations styrene conducted solution whereas shows good performance bulk.